With its semi-industrial pilot lines dedicated to the development of high-end products & efficient processes, Centexbel-VKC assists companies in the search of new, original and successful (niche) products and in the implementation of new technologies.

Centexbel-VKC has put in place several channels to share the knowledge and expertise it has acquired during numerous collective research projects, testing activities and international networking meetings.

The testing or analysis of textiles and plastics - from raw material to finished product - by an independent and accredited laboratory not only results in a significant market advantage, but also shows respect for the safety, health and well-being of consumers.
This page provides an overview of our testing offer.

The R&D activities of Centexbel-VKC support the textile, plastic converting and related companies with the explicit aim to reinforce the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and to assist the industry in its transition to a sustainable future.
By accessing this page you'll find a complete overview of all ongoing collective research projects.

OEKO-TEX® offers companies of the textile industry several certifications and services to have their products tested for harmful substances by independent institutes, and to optimize their production conditions and their supply chains with regard to sustainability.

Standardisation is the process of implementing and developing technical standards based on the consensus of different parties including companies, users, interest groups, standards organisations and governments.

The initiative of the FPS Economy, called standards cells aims at better informing SME's about the role and impact of standards within their companies as well as at promoting the application of standards.

Centexbel, the scientific and technical research centre of the Belgian textile industry, is an institution recognised by the application of the Royal Decree of January 30th, 1947 (a.k.a. "Law De Groote"). Its mission - in close co-operation with Fedustria - is to promote research and technological development with the intention of enhancing the cost-effectiveness, quality and production capacity of the Belgian textile industry.

Centexbel-VKC’s pilot extrusion lines offer the industry a useful, cost and time efficient platform to evaluate the spinnability of new polymer grades and recyclates and the processability and properties of new masterbatches, to produce prototype yarns in view of further testing and to optimise the extrusion process

Additive Manufacturing (AM) involves a series of techniques to produce objects by adding materials layer per layer. Centexbel-VKC researches the possibilites of AM or 3D printing to functionalize and to customize conventionally produced textile and plastic objects.

The textile platform is an innovation laboratory, open to textile industrials wishing to develop products that are offering an answer to demanding (product) criteria and to create commercial opportunities in technical textile niche markets (energy, aviation, medical devices).

The Centexbel coating & finishing platform is composed of several semi-industrial and labscale surface modification, coating and lamination lines for prototyping purposes and to carry out experiments in the framework of collective and private research projects.

Centexbel-VKC supports the textile and plastic converting industry in their search and development of novel and quality products by offering a series of tools, including specialized tests, flaw analyses, technological and environmental advice, innovation support, information and brainstorming sessions and research projects.

Products and services must meet regulated requirements which aim at guaranteeing their use in full safety. Meeting the specific requirements set out by ecolabels will market your brand as outstanding. Discover the different certifying systems for which Centexbel is accredited.

Intellectual property rights, and more in particular patents, are quite expensive. Before casting them off as not being worth the investment, have al look at the many financial measurements provided by the authorities that will turn your patent into profit.

In a circular economy, the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible. Waste and resource use are minimised, and when a product reaches the end of its life, it is used again to create further value. This can bring major economic benefits, contributing to innovation, growth and job creation.

REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

A business model refers to the way a company creates and captures value. The features of the model define the customer value proposition and the pricing mechanism, indicate how the company will organize itself and whom it will partner with to produce value, and specify how it will structure its supply chain.

The Centexbel carpet testlab offers a wide range of floorcovering tests to ensure that the products are safe and meet the legal requirements as well as the industry specifications. Centexbel is a Notified Body (# 0493) for EN 14041 and assists in CE marking requirements under the EU CPR - Construction Products Regulation (305/2011).

NEN 8333 “Protective clothing ‐ Body covering clothing that supports the protection against tick bites and is industrially treated with permethrine”. The tests described in the standard may only be performed by validated testing labs.
Centexbel is acknowledged by the Deutsche Bundeswehr - Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe (WIWeb) according to TL-8305-0031. As a result, manufacturers of protective clothing against tick bites can have their products tested according to the standard at Centexbel.

This set of rules specifies the general procedures, the method, responsibilities and rules CENTEXBEL, as notified body, applies in processing a certification application for products that fall under the scope of Centexbel (056-PROD) according to ISO 17065.

The regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment makes it mandatory to affix the CE marking on products used as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). By means of this CE marking, the manufacturer* declares that the product complies with the essential safety and health requirements applying to PPE and that the product has been introduced on the market in conformity with the legislation. The technical requirements with which the products shall comply are described in the corresponding harmonized European standards or technical specifications.

The European Construction Products Regulation (CPR) declares that CE-marking is mandatory for a number of textile products used in construction. With the CE-marking, the manufacturer attests that the product is in conformity with the applicable technical harmonized specifications. The conditions to which these products must comply are described in the corresponding harmonized standards

The European Directive on Marine Equipment or MED 2014/90 makes it mandatory to affix the wheel mark on products that are used as marine equipment. By affixing the wheel mark, the manufacturer* attests that the product is in conformity with the applicable legal safety and health requirements and that it is marketed in conformity with the legislation. The technical requirements with which the products have to comply are defined in the corresponding harmonized European standards or technical specifications.

Our technology consultants are your personal coaches throughout any project or trouble shooting operation, maintaining a close collaboration with your company at all times. To give you the best possible advice they rely on a solid team of researchers and lab assistants.

Industry 4.0 refers to the advanced integration of products and processes via digital technology. It refers to cyber-physical systems (CPS). We can define Industry 4.0 as the next phase in the digitisation of the manufacturing industry, driven by technological developments.

Many products require CE marking before they can be sold in the EU. CE marking indicates that a product has been assessed by the manufacturer and deemed to meet EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. It is required for products manufactured anywhere in the world that are then marketed in the EU.

Now that the federal safety council is gradually re-opening the country and restoring the economic activities, the wear of masks is being recommended in cases where it will be difficult or even impossible to respect social distancing. On this page we recapitulate our testing scope, the information on the different types of masks and the measures taken by the Belgian government on the ATP (Alternative Test Protocol) of medical masks.

Breadcrumb

FTIR

FOURIER-TRANSFORMATION-IR SPECTROSCOPY

Principle

Infrared spectroscopy is a form of spectroscopy which is specifically active in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectra.

IR-spectroscopy relies on the fact that IR-radiation excites molecular structures on different levels of vibration. This leads to absorption of different regions of the irradiated IR light. The thus resulting spectrum allows identification of the chemical bonds.

Testing procedure

The sample is placed on an ATR crystal, pressed down and irradiated with a narrow band of IR light (middle part of the spectrum). The signal of the reflected IR light is detected.